Daughter of BTK serial killer speaks out against Stephen King story, says her dad enjoys attention
A daughter of a notorious serial killer has for the first time publicly spoken about her father, in response to news that a short story by Stephen King, “A Good Marriage”, was inspired by her family’s experience in living unknowing with a multiple murderer.
Kerri Rawson says it’s unfortunate that the story, which is the basis for an upcoming movie, is rewarding her father, so-called BTK killer Dennis Rader, with further attention, the Wichita Eagle reports.
Rader committed 10 murders over a period of more than 30 years in the Wichita, Kansas, area, Now 69, he is scheduled to be released from prison, at the earliest, on Feb. 26, 2180, more than 165 years from now.
“He has said he is sorry, but that means nothing,” Rawson told the newspaper Thursday. “He is not worth all the books and the news stories and all the attention.”
Kelly Otis, who formerly worked as a police detective on the task force investigating the BTK killings, agreed with Rawson and said the publicity will undoubtedly give Rader a thrill.
Rawson, an evangelical Christian, says she has forgiven her father but cannot understand what he did and has not visited him during the nearly 10 years that he has been in prison. In addition to objecting to the King story because it focuses attention on Dennis Rader, she said it also puts an unwanted spotlight on her family and survivors of those her father victimized.
“Stephen King has the right to tell a story, but why bring us into it?” she said. “Why couldn’t he just find inspiration for another good story, but leave out where it all came from?”
See also:
ABA Journal: “How the Cops Caught BTK”
CBS This Morning: “Stephen King’s new movie inspired by infamous killer”
Wichita Eagle: “Stephen King to visit Wichita on Nov. 14; BTK-inspired movie out in October”
ABAJournal.com: “Growing up during BTK serial-killing spree informed author’s new crime novel (podcast)”
